Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King (1972): Cast & Plot
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King is a 1972 historical drama directed by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg, starring Oskar von Schab as Ludwig I / Karl May, Kurt Jungmann and Harry Baer. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 15m (135 min)
- Director
- Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
- Original language
-
German - Studio
- ZDF
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King About?
The premise of Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in an artificial, bombastically staged illusion that fuses Wagnerian music with glossy, satirical nods to contemporary time, the film revisits 19th‑century German figures and traditions. Stripped of mythic aura, they are reinterpreted through a 1972 German lens, revealing cultural contradictions in a stylized, larger‑than‑life world.
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- narcissistic
- kingdom of bavaria
- gay aristocrat
- young man
- wagner
- king
- artistic creation
- theater stage
- aristocracy
- ambiguity
- puzzle
- erotic male body
+38 more Show fewer
- loneliness
- performer
- german culture
- movie director
- avant garde
- scenography
- projected image
- styled art style
- reference to richard wagner
- empress elisabeth of austria
- conspirator
- monarchy
- infatuation
- cabaret
- reference to karl may
- reference to superman
- reference to georges melies
- background
- teutonic
- nude girl
- symbolism
- infamy
- insanity
- motorcycle
- sisi
- sissi
- gay
- young king
- male protagonist
- bavaria
- german king
- guillotine
- nature
- kitsch
- culture
- interview
- talking to the camera
- back projection
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King Cast & Characters
Oskar von Schab leads the cast as Ludwig I / Karl May, with Kurt Jungmann as Prinz Ludwig and Harry Baer as Ludwig II. Directed by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg; 22 actors are credited in all.
- Director Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
- Oskar von Schab as Ludwig I / Karl May
- Kurt Jungmann as Prinz Ludwig
- Harry Baer as Ludwig II
- Ingrid Caven as Lola Montez
Also Starring in Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King
· 18 more- Anette Tirier Richard Wagner #2
- Gerhard Maerz Richard Wagner #1
- Monica Bleibtreu Elisabeth Ney
- Peter Moland Minissterpräsident Lutz
- Peter Kern Lakai Mayr / Hoffriseur Hoppe / Röhm
- Johannes Buzalski Emmanuel Geibel / Hitler
- Sigi Graue Otto
- Peter Przygodda Bismarck
- Daniel Schmid Aussenminister von der Pfordten
- Günther Kaufmann Graf Holnstein
- Rudolf Waldemar Brem Professor Gudden
- Gert Haucke Baron Freyschlag
- Ursula Strätz Mme Bulyowski
- Stefan Abendroth Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm
- Hanna Köhler Sissi
- Wolfram Kunkel Hesselschwert
Show all 22 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Wolfgang Haas Alfons Weber
- Eberhard Schubert Hoffotograf Albert / Journalist
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King Plot Summary
What happens in Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Three norns foretell Ludwig II, Harry Baer as a king haunted by a curse said to come from Lola Montez, Ingrid Caven, destined to be the last king of Bavaria. He governs his court as a personal theatre of taste and image, clinging to aesthetics while resisting the pull of industrialism, progressivism, and the rising modern mass society. He nurses a toothache and conducts himself with eccentricity, yet makes a point of stepping beyond the palace walls to connect with life outside the court, choosing moments of ordinary humanity over isolation. The tension between decadence and connection threads through his days.
Full summary
The whole story of Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays King Ludwig II in the film?
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King Also Known As
5 alternative titles, including “Ludwig, requiem pour un roi vierge” and “Ludwig: Réquiem por un rey virgen”.
- Also known as
-
- Ludwig, requiem pour un roi vierge
- Ludwig: Réquiem por un rey virgen
- Ludwig - requiem per un re vergine
- 路德维希二世安魂曲
- Людвиг – Реквием по королю-девственнику
Seen Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King?
Movies Like Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Ludwig, Ludwig II and Ludwig II, King of Bavaria.
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King?
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
When was Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King released?
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King was released on June 22, 1972.
Who directed Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King?
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King was directed by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg.
More films by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg Who is in the cast of Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King?
Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King stars Oskar von Schab as Ludwig I / Karl May, Kurt Jungmann as Prinz Ludwig and Harry Baer as Ludwig II, among 22 credited actors.
Does Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King have a post-credit scene?
No. Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King in?
The original language of Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King is German.
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